Automatic warehouse

ABSTRACT

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic warehouse in which an article housing portion is constructed by installing a plurality of strut units parallel with one another, the strut units each having a large number of shelf members arranged in a vertical direction and extended between a pair of strut bases arranged in a direction in which articles are housed, the automatic warehouse housing articles each having projecting portions such as hand gripping portions on its sides, wherein the hand gripping portions of the article and the strut bases located at the front and rear of the article are prevented from interfering with each other and wherein the articles can be housed more efficiently in the automatic warehouse without increasing the size of a housing space for each article. One of the pair strut bases  21 B is arranged closer to the other strut member  21 B, located at the loading and unloading side of the article  8.  That is, the former strut base is retreated so as not to interfere with the projecting portions  8   a  provided on the sides of the article  8.  Further, a cylindrical member  21 A is arranged between the pair of strut bases  21 B,  21 B and has an insertion hole  21   e  through which an adjuster bolt  21  is inserted. The pair of strut bases  21 B,  21 B and the cylindrical member  21 A is integrally formed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic warehouse used in a clean room or the like, and more specifically, to a configuration of a housing portion of the automatic warehouse.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Automatic warehouses have hitherto been known which are provided with a stacker crane used to convey articles. In such an automatic warehouse, a pair of racks is installed and provided with housing shelves on which articles are housed and which are arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. Further, a rail is laid between the racks so that the stacker crane can run on the rail. The stacker crane has a carriage running along the rail and provided with a mast extending vertically. Furthermore, a hoisting table is provided which elevates and lowers along the mast. The hoisting table is provided with a loading device that is extendable in the horizontal direction to load articles on the housing shelves. The rack is constructed by arranging a plurality of strut units parallel with one another, the strut units each having a large number of shelf members arranged in a vertical direction and on one or both of the sides of each of a pair of struts arranged at a front and rear positions (in a direction in which articles are loaded and unloaded), respectively. The pair of struts is attached to the front and rear ends of the shelf members. Further, the housing shelf is composed of a pair of shelf members attached to the adjacent strut units. The article is placed on the pair of shelf members so as to extend over them.

[0003] In recent years, more and more articles have had projecting portions such as hand gripping portions on their opposite sides. Accordingly, the space between the strut units has been widened in a lateral direction so as to correspond to these projecting portions so that the projecting portions of such an article to be housed will not interfere with struts located at the front and rear of the article. This increases the size of a housing space for each article to preclude articles from being housed efficiently.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to allow articles to be more efficiently housed in an automatic warehouse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The problems to be solved by the present invention have been described. Now, means for solving the problems will be described below.

[0006] First, as set forth in claim 1, the present invention provides an automatic warehouse in which an article housing portion is constructed by installing a plurality of strut units parallel with one another, the strut units each having a large number of shelf members arranged in a vertical direction and extended between a pair of struts arranged in a direction in which articles are loaded and unloaded, the automatic warehouse housing articles each having projecting portions on its sides, the automatic warehouse being characterized in that one of the pair of struts, which is located at the loading and unloading side of the article, is arranged closer to the strut, which is located further from the loading and unloading side of the article, and at a position at which the strut located at the loading and unloading side of the article does not interfere with the projecting portions on the sides of the articles.

[0007] Further, as set forth in claim 2, the pair of struts is integrally formed, and a through-hole is formed between the pair of struts so that a member projecting from a floor surface is inserted into the through-hole.

[0008] Furthermore, as set forth in claim 3, a fitting groove is formed in each side of each of the pair of struts so as to extend in a longitudinal direction, and a fixture is engaged with each of the fitting grooves so that the shelf members are mounted via the fixtures.

[0009] Moreover, as set forth in claim 4, groove portions are formed in a bottom surface of the article at opposite ends of the bottom surface located at the loading and unloading side of the article, and at a central position of the bottom surface located further from the loading and unloading side of the article, and outermost edges of each groove portion are arranged radially relative to its center so as to form three vertexes of an equilateral triangle. Further, positioning pins are projectingly disposed on each of the shelf members and engaged with holes formed at those ends of the bottom surface of the article which are located at the loading and unloading side of the article, and a rotation preventing member is provided at a tip portion of the shelf member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic warehouse of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the automatic warehouse.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a top sectional view of the automatic warehouse.

[0013]FIG. 4A is a front view showing how a side wall unit is installed so as to extend vertically, and FIG. 4B is a front view showing how a strut member is connected to the side wall unit installed so as to extend vertically.

[0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing how strut members are connected together.

[0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing how a joint material is attached to the strut member.

[0016]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing how an engaging unit engages with a fitting groove in the strut member.

[0017]FIG. 8 is a plan view of the strut member.

[0018]FIG. 9 is a plan view showing how the engaging unit engages with the fitting groove in the strut member.

[0019]FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing how a nut plate is inserted into the joint material.

[0020]FIG. 11 is a front sectional view showing how the strut member and the joint material are clamped together.

[0021]FIG. 12 is a front sectional view showing how the lower end of the strut member is fixedly positioned on a floor surface.

[0022]FIG. 13 is a plan view showing how outer wall panels are mounted on the strut member, wherein FIG. 13A shows that a mounting operation has not been started yet, FIG. 13B shows that the mounting operation is being performed, and FIG. 13C shows that the mounting operation has been completed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Now, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0024] In the following description, for convenience, a description will be given of the front and rear, and right and left positions of each structure of an automatic warehouse 1 by defining the direction of arrow F, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, as frontward. This also applies to the front and rear, and right and left positions of each structure in the other drawings.

[0025] First, the automatic warehouse 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0026] The automatic warehouse 1 is provided with a pair of a front and rear housing portions 20, 20 having a large number of housing shelves 25, 25, and an article conveying device 3.

[0027] Each of the housing portions 20, 20 is provided with a large number of housing shelves 25, 25, . . . arranged in a lateral direction and a vertical direction. The pair of housing portions 20, 20 is arranged inside a cabinet 2 opposite each other so as to sandwich a rail 38 for a carriage 30, described later. A fan 9 used to suck dust is installed below a horizontal plate 29 disposed at the bottom of each of the housing portions 20.

[0028] The article conveying device 3 comprises a hoisting table 34 acting as a conveying member and a loading device 4 arranged on the hoisting table 34. The article conveying device 3 receives an article 8 through a delivery port (not shown in the drawings) formed in the cabinet 2 and places it on the hoisting table 34 using the loading device 4, subsequently moves the hoisting table 34 to one of the housing shelf 25 which is empty, and then delivers the article 8 to the housing shelf 25 using the loading device 4. Alternatively, the article conveying device 3 may receive the article 8 already housed on the housing shelf 25 and place it on the hoisting table 34 using the loading device 4, subsequently move the hoisting table 34 to the delivery port, and then deliver the article 8 to the delivery port using the loading device 4.

[0029] A track composed of rails 38, 38 is laid between the housing portions 20, 20. The carriage 30 is arranged on the rails 38, 38. The carriage 30 is provided with running wheels 31, 31, . . . arranged on the rails 38, 38.

[0030] The above arrangements enable the carriage 30 to run along the rails 38, 38 while being supported by the rails 38, 38.

[0031] A mast 36 is installed on the carriage 30 via a turn table 35 so as to extend vertically, and is configured to be rotationally driven together with the turn table 35. The hoisting table 34 is attached to the mast 36 so as to be elevatingly driven in a vertical direction. The loading device 4, which loads the article 8, is provided on the hoisting table 34.

[0032] The loading device 4 is configured to operate as a extendable robot hand, and the loading device 4 is provide with a fork 41 at its tip to support the article 8 by scooping up the article 8 from below. A projection projects upward from the top surface of the fork 41. On the other hand, a hole portion is formed in the bottom surface of the article 8 so that the projection can be inserted through this hole portion. Thus, the projection and the hole portion can be engaged with each other to hold the article 8 so that it will not fall from the fork 41. The fork 41 holding the article 8 is inserted between a lateral pair of shelf members 25L, 25R constituting the housing shelf 25. The article 8 is placed on the shelf members 25L, 25R.

[0033] The shelf member 25L (or 25R) is molded by bending a plate-like member by press working or the like, and a tip portion 25 b is bent obliquely upward, and one side portion 25 c is bent vertically downward and is attached to a strut member 21.

[0034] Further, positioning pins 14, 14 are projectingly disposed on the top surfaces of the shelf members 25L, 25R, respectively. On the other hand, the article 8 placed on the housing shelf 25 is provided with groove portions in its bottom surface at three positions, i.e. on the opposite sides of the bottom surface located at the insertion side of the fork 41, that is, located at the loading and unloading side of the article 8, and in a central portion of the bottom surface located further from the insertion side of the fork 41, that is, located further from the loading and unloading side of the article 8, the groove portions being arranged radially relative to the center of the bottom surface. The tops of the outermost edges of the groove portions form the three vertexes of an equilateral triangle. The article 8 is placed on the housing shelf 25 by engaging the grooves located on the opposite sides of the bottom surface located at the loading and unloading side of the article 8, with the positioning pins 14, 14 on the top surfaces of the shelf members 25L, 25R, respectively. Further, at this time, the tip portions 25 b, 25 b of the shelf members 25L, 25R are placed so as to abut against the end of the article 8 located at the loading and unloading side of the article 8. Accordingly, the tip portions 25 b, 25 b of the shelf members 25L, 25R regulate rotation of the article 8.

[0035] In this manner, the article 8 is positioned by the positioning pins 14, 14 provided on the shelf members 25L, 25R, respectively, and the bent tip portions 25 b, 25 b. This configuration does not require a positioning pin that is engaged with the groove portion formed in the bottom surface of the article 8 in its central portion located further from the loading and unloading side of the article 8. This reduces the number of parts required.

[0036] Further, with the present configuration, the fork 41 may be used to insert the groove portions in the bottom surface of the article 8 over the two positioning pins 14, 14 on the shelf members 25L, 25R, respectively. An inserting operation can be accomplished more easily than in the case with three positioning pins. Consequently, insertion errors are reduced to improve reliability.

[0037] For a clean room in which the automatic house 1 is installed, a non-contact feeding method is employed to perfectly prevent the occurrence of dust. A feeder line holder 50 is suspended from at least one of the horizontal plates 29, arranged at the bottoms of the housing portions 20, and the feeder line holder 50 holds a pair of feeder lines 51, 51 at its tip portion. The feeder lines 51, 51 are arranged along the rails 38, 38, and further, the carriage 30 is provided with a power receiving device 5 that obtains current from a magnetic field generated in the feeder lines 51, 51.

[0038] The power receiving device 5 is provided with an E-shaped core 52. The pair of feeder lines 51, 51 is inserted into the core 52 and arranged so as not to contact with the core 52. A pickup coil 53 is wound around the core 52. Accordingly, the power receiving device 5 obtains current on the basis of the nature that the magnetic field generated in the feeder lines 51, 51 induces electromotive force in the pickup coil 53 as a result of electromagnetic induction.

[0039] Electric power obtained by the power receiving device 5 as described above is used to drive a drive source for the carriage 30, a drive source for the hoisting table 34, and others provided in the article conveying device 3.

[0040] Now, a description will be given of a method of assembling the cabinet 2 according to the present invention.

[0041] In the cabinet 2, a frame is formed of the strut members 21, 21, . . . , the side wall unit 24, and joint materials 22, 22, . . . that connect the strut members 21, 21 together and the strut member 21 and the side wall unit 24 together. Thin-plate-like outer wall panels 23 are mounted on the respective surface areas defined by the strut members 21, 21 and the joint materials 22, 22. The shelf members 25L, 25R are attached to the left and right sides of the strut member 21, respectively, and to the inner side of the side wall unit 24 and are arranged at predetermined intervals in a height direction as shown in FIG. 4.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the strut member 21 comprises strut bases 21B, 21B to which the shelf members 25L, 25R are attached, respectively, and a cylindrical member 21A provided between the strut bases 21B, 21B, the strut bases 21B, 21B and the cylinder member 21A being molded integrally by extruding aluminum. Fitting grooves 21 a, 21 a, 21 a, 21 a, 21 b each appearing to be T-shaped in a sectional view are formed at five locations, i.e. in opposite sides of each of the strut bases 21B, 21B and the outer side of one of the strut bases 21B which is orthogonal to the above opposite sides. A lateral pair of engaging pieces 21 c, 21 c is projectingly disposed on the outer sides of the other strut base 21B, respectively. The tips of the engaging pieces 21 c, 21 c are bent so as to face each other, with a generally T-shaped engaging groove 21 d formed between the tips. The fitting grooves 21 a, 21 b and the engaging groove 21 c are formed along the longitudinal direction of the strut member 21, and engaging units 11 are engaged with the fitting grooves 21 a, 21 b, and the joint materials 22 are assembled via the engaging units 11 as described later in detail.

[0043] Further, a nut plate is engaged with the fitting groove 21 a at its predetermined position, and a fixing hole formed in the side portion 25 c of the shelf member 25L (or 25R) is then arranged at the side of the nut plate. A fixing bolt 15 is then inserted through the fixing hole sideward from the exterior. Then, the fixing bolt 15 and the nut plate are clamped together. In this manner, the side portion 25 c of the shelf member 25L (or 25R) is fitted in the two fitting grooves 21 a, 21 a, formed in one side of the strut member 21, via the fixing bolts 15, 15 and the nut plate (see FIG. 2). Thus, a large number of shelf members 25L, 25R, . . . are attached to the respective sides of the strut member 21 at predetermined intervals to form a strut unit in advance.

[0044] In the prior art, a strut unit is constructed by installing a large number of shelf members on a pair of struts arranged at a front and rear positions so that the shelf members are arranged in the vertical direction. However, in this embodiment, one of the pair of struts, which is located at the loading and unloading side of the article 8, is arranged closer to the other strut, which is located further from the loading and unloading side of the article 8. Further, both struts are molded integrally to construct the strut member 21. Then, the strut unit is constructed by attaching a large number of shelf members 25L, 25R to the strut member 21 so that the shelf members are arranged in the vertical direction.

[0045] Some articles 8 have hand gripping portions 8 a, 8 a projecting from their opposite sides. With the present configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, when the article 8 having the hand gripping portions 8 a, 8 a is housed, the hand gripping portions 8 a, 8 a and the strut members 21, 21 are prevented from interfering with each other. Thus, the article 8 can be housed more efficiently without widening the lateral space between the strut members 21, 21. Further, the strut unit of the present configuration can be conveyed more easily than the conventional strut unit, in which a large number of concave housing shelves project from the strut. Therefore, the strut unit of the present configuration allows the article to be conveyed more efficiently.

[0046] Furthermore, the strut unit of the present configuration is extended vertically in an outer peripheral portion of the area in which the cabinet 2 is to be installed. This allows workers to perform operations more easily. Further, the adjacent strut members 21, 21 can be easily assembled together via the joint members 22.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 9, the engaging unit 11 appears generally like a key in a plan view. A T-shaped engaging portion 11 b is projected from a square main body 11 a, and a fitting hole 11 c is formed in the center of the main body 11 a. An edge 11 d of the fitting hole 11 c in one side of the main body 11 a is chamfered so as to be tapered. This allows a fixing bolt 13 to be inserted easily into the fitting hole 11 e from above with the main body 11 a located so that the above mentioned side of it faces upward.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 6, 10 and 11, the joint material 22 is formed, by extruding aluminum or the like, to have a hollow portion extending in the longitudinal direction. The top and bottom surfaces of the joint material 22 are connected together by a pair of vertical planes 22 b, 22 b, and the vertical planes 22 b, 22 b are connected together by a reinforcing member 22 a. A general “H” shape is formed by the vertical planes 22 b, 22 b and a horizontal plane 22 c of the reinforcing member 22 a. Step portions 22 d, 22 d are each formed in the lower part of the corresponding one of the vertical surfaces 22 b, 22 b so as to project outward. Further, the longitudinal opposite sides of the joint material 22 are bored from above so that through-holes 22 e, 22 f are formed in the top surface of the joint material 22 and in the horizontal plane 22 c, located immediately below the top surface.

[0049] Furthermore, insertion grooves 22 g, 22 g are formed in the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of the joint material 22 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction. The insertion grooves 22 g, 22 g are arranged at one side end of the joint material 22 in its latitudinal direction. The through-holes 22 e, 22 f are arranged slightly closer to the other side relative to the center.

[0050] Now, a description will be given of a method of assembling these members together.

[0051] First, as shown in FIG. 4A, the side wall unit 24 is installed in the planned installation area for the cabinet 2 so as to extend vertically. The side wall unit 24 is fixedly positioned on the floor surface using a foot adjuster 6. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the strut member 21 to which the shelf members 25L, 25R, . . . are attached is installed at the side of the side wall unit 24 so as to extend vertically. As shown in FIG. 5, a support member 26 is attached to the lower end of the strut member 21 so as to extend inward. The foot adjusters 6, 6 are attached to the bottom surface of the support member 26 and the bottom surface of the strut member 21, respectively.

[0052] Then, the joint materials 22, 22, . . . are sequentially attached to the strut member 21, extended vertically without being fixed to the floor surface.

[0053] The joint material 22 is attached as follows:

[0054] As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 9, first, the engaging unit 11 is inserted into the fitting groove 21 a so that the engaging unit extends in the vertical direction. Then, the engaging unit 11 is rotated through 90° so as to extend in the horizontal direction. Subsequently, the engaging portion 11 b of the engaging unit 11 is engaged with the fitting groove 21 a with its surface with the fitting hole 11 c with the chamfered edge 11 d facing upward.

[0055] Next, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the opposite sides of the nut plate 12 as a clamped unit, are engaged with the step portions 22 d, 22 d of the reinforcing member 22 a from one side the joint member 22. The nut plate 12 is then pushed inward. Then, the main body 11 a of the engaging unit 11 a is inserted into an insertion space formed between the horizontal plane 22 c and the nut plate 12 housed between the step portions 22 d, 22 d.

[0056] Then, a fixing hole 12 c formed in the center of the nut plate 12 is aligned with the insertion holes 22 e, 22 f substantially in a line, the insertion holes 22 e, 22 f being formed in the top surface of the joint material 22 and in the horizontal plane. Then, the fixing bolt 13 as a clamp is inserted through the insertion holes 22 e, 22 f to connect the lower end of the fixing bolt 13 to the fitting hole 11 c in the engaging unit 11 and to the fixing hole 12 c in the nut plate 12. More specifically, the fitting hole 11 c in the engaging unit 11 is located slightly closer to the strut member 21 than the insertion holes 22 e, 22 f. In this state, the fixing bolt 13 is screwed into the fixing hole 12 c in the nut plate 12. Then, the engaging unit 11 is guided by the edge 11 d of the fitting hole 11 c and moved away from the strut member 21. That is, the engaging portion 11 b of the engaging unit 11 pulls the fitting groove 21 a in the strut member 21, and the engaging unit 11 is fixed to the strut member 21, and the joint material 22 is fixed to the strut member 21.

[0057] Similarly, the other side of the joint material 22 is attached via a fitting groove formed in the side wall unit 24. The strut member 21 and the side wall unit 24 are connected together by thus interposing the joint materials 22, 22, . . . between the strut member 21 and the side wall unit 24 at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. Subsequently, the foot adjusters 6, 6 are fixed to the floor surface, the foot adjusters 6, 6 being attached to the bottom surface of the strut member 21 and to the bottom surface of the support member 26.

[0058] An insertion hole 21 e in the cylindrical member 21A of the strut member 21 is molded so that an adjuster bolt 61 of the foot adjuster 6 can be inserted into the hole 21 e. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the adjuster bolt 61 is fixedly inserted into the insertion hole 21 e, in which a nut member has been fixedly fitted. Further, an adjuster bolt foot lock fixture 62 is fixed to the floor surface via a fixing bolt 63 already buried into the concrete floor surface to fixedly position the strut member 21.

[0059] The automatic warehouse 1 of this embodiment is constructed on the concrete floor surface. However, it may be constructed on a grating floor surface on which a large number of openings are formed, or the like. In this case, the fixing bolt 63 is secured to the grating.

[0060] Similarly, a new strut member 21 is mounted at the side of the above strut member 21 via the joint materials 22, 22, . . . and is fixedly positioned on the floor surface. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the strut members 21, 21, . . . are sequentially installed parallel with one another. Finally, the side wall unit 24 is mounted at the side of the outermost strut member 21 to construct the frame of the cabinet 2.

[0061] Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the flexible thin-panel-like outer wall panels 23 are mounted on the respective surface areas defined by the strut members 21, 21 and the joint materials 22, 22 and are each fitted via presser members 18, 18 and a groove engaging member 19.

[0062] The presser member 18 and the groove engaging member 19 are substantially as long as the single outer wall panel 23 and are formed to appear as shown in FIG. 13A, in a plan view. The presser member 18 is shaped generally like the character “F” rotated through 90°, and has an engaging portion 18 a that engages with the engaging piece 21 c on the outer side of the strut member 21, a press lock portion 18 b projecting parallel with the engaging portion 18 a, and a locked portion 18 c projecting in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the engaging portion 18 a. The tip of the engaging portion 18 a is bent toward the press lock portion 18 b and formed like a hook. The groove engaging member 19 has locking portions 19 a, 19 a on its right and left, respectively, so as to appear generally like the character “U” rotated through 90°. The groove engaging member 19 is configured so as to be elastically deformed.

[0063] Now, description will be given of a method of mounting the outer wall panel 23 using the presser members 18, 18 and the groove engaging member 19.

[0064] First, the lower end of the outer wall panel 23 is inserted into the insertion groove 22 g (see FIG. 10), formed in the top surface of the lower joint material 22. Then, the upper end of the outer wall panel 23 is inserted into the insertion groove 22 g in the upper joint material 22 while being flexed.

[0065] Then, as shown in FIG. 13B, the engaging portions 18 a, 18 a of the presser members 18, 18 are engaged with the pair of engaging pieces 21 c, 21 c, respectively, on the outer side of the strut member 21. The press lock portion 18 b of one of the presser members 18 is used to press a side end of the outer wall panel 23 in this surface area. The press lock portion 18 b of the other presser member 18 is used to press a side end of the outer wall panel 23 in the adjacent surface area.

[0066] In this regard, a spacer may be interposed between the press lock portion 18 b of the presser member 18 and the side end of the outer wall panel 23. In this case, the outer wall panel 23 may be fixed via this spacer.

[0067] Then, as shown in FIG. 13C, the groove engaging portion 19 is inserted between and engaged with the locked portions 18 c, 18 c of the presser members 18, 18, which engage with the pair of locked pieces 21 c, 21 c, respectively.

[0068] In this case, the width of the groove engaging member 19 is slightly wider than the size of the space between the presser members 18, 18. Thus, when inserted between the locked portions 18 c, 18 c, the groove engaging member 19 is elastically deformed to urge the locked portions 18 c, 18 c laterally outward. Further, the locking portions 19 a, 19 a are each formed to have a smaller space at its tip than at its root. This allows the locking portion 19 a, 19 a can be inserted more easily between the locked portions 18 c, 18 c.

[0069] After the locking portions 19 a, 19 a have been engaged with the locked portions 18 c, 18 c, the elastic groove engaging member 19 urges the presser members 18, 18, located at the respective sides of the groove engaging member 19. Consequently, the presser members 18, 18 are not removed easily from the engaging pieces 21 c, 21 c. In this manner, the outer wall panel 23 can be mounted easily on the surface area defined by the strut members 21, 21 and the joint materials 22, 22, without using any special tools.

[0070] On the other hand, the outer wall panel 23 is removed easily by catching the upper or lower end of the groove engaging member 19 with the finger, the groove engaging member 19 being engaged between the presser members 18, 18. Then, the opposite sides of the outer wall panel 23 may be held, and the upper and lower ends of the outer wall panel 23 may be pulled out of the insertion grooves 22 g, 22 g in the joint material 22. In this manner, removal operations can be performed easily. If for example, the loading device 4 fails, the operator can remove the corresponding outer wall panel 23 and directly take out the article 8, placed on the housing shelf 25, from the exterior of the automatic warehouse 1.

[0071] Owing to the above configuration, the present invention has the following effects.

[0072] First, as set forth in claim 1, the present invention provides an automatic warehouse in which an article housing portion is constructed by installing a plurality of strut units parallel with one another, the strut units each having a large number of shelf members arranged in a vertical direction and extended between a pair of struts arranged in a direction in which articles are loaded and unloaded, the automatic warehouse housing articles each having projecting portions on its sides, wherein one of the pair of struts, which is located at the loading and unloading side of the article, is arranged closer to the strut, which is located further from the loading and unloading side of the article, and at a position at which the strut located at the loading and unloading side of the article does not interfere with the projecting portions on the sides of the article.

[0073] This eliminates the need to widen the space between the strut units to allow the articles to be housed more efficiently.

[0074] As set forth in claim 2, the pair of struts is integrally formed, and a through-hole is formed between the pair of struts so that a member projecting from a floor surface is inserted into the through-hole.

[0075] This enables the struts to he attached to the floor surface and eliminates the need to form a separate insertion hole in a projecting member. Therefore, the number of parts required is reduced to reduce costs.

[0076] Further, as set forth in claim 3, a fitting groove is formed in each side of each of the pair of struts so as to extend in a longitudinal direction, and a fixture is engaged with each of the fitting grooves so that the shelf members are mounted via the fixtures.

[0077] Consequently, the shelf member can be fixed to an arbitrary height along the fitting groove, thus improving operability.

[0078] Furthermore, as set forth in claim 4, groove portions are formed in a bottom surface of the article at opposite ends of the bottom surface located at the loading and unloading side of the article, and at a central position of the bottom surface located further from the loading and unloading side of the article, and outermost edges of each groove portion are arranged radially relative to its center so as to form three vertexes of an equilateral triangle.

[0079] Moreover, and positioning pins are projectingly disposed on each of the shelf members and engaged with holes formed at those ends of the bottom surface of the article which are located at the loading and unloading side of the article, and a rotation preventing member is provided at a tip portion of the shelf member.

[0080] Therefore, the article can be positioned on the shelf member and prevented from rotating without using a positioning pin engaged with the positioning groove portion located in the center of the bottom surface of the article and further from the loading and unloading side of the article. 

1. An automatic warehouse in which an article housing portion is constructed by installing a plurality of strut units parallel with one another, the strut units each having a large number of shelf members arranged in a vertical direction and extended between a pair of struts arranged in a direction in which articles are loaded and unloaded, the automatic warehouse housing articles each having projecting portions on its sides, the automatic warehouse being characterized in that one of said pair of struts, which is located at the loading and unloading side of the article, is arranged closer to the strut, which is located further from the loading and unloading side of the article, and at a position at which the strut located at the loading and unloading side of the article does not interfere with the projecting portions on the sides of the article.
 2. An automatic warehouse according to claim 1, characterized in that said pair of struts is integrally formed, and a through-hole is formed between the pair of struts so that a member projecting from a floor surface is inserted into the through-hole.
 3. An automatic warehouse according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a fitting groove is formed in each side of each of said pair of struts so as to extend in a longitudinal direction, and a fixture is engaged with each of the fitting grooves so that said shelf members are mounted via the fixtures.
 4. An automatic warehouse according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that groove portions are formed in a bottom surface of said article at opposite ends of the bottom surface located at the loading and unloading side of the article, and at a central position of the bottom surface located further from the loading and unloading side of the article, and outermost edges of each groove portion are arranged radially relative to its center so as to form three vertexes of an equilateral triangle, and in that positioning pins are projectingly disposed on each of said shelf members and engaged with holes formed at those ends of the bottom surface of the article which are located at the loading and unloading side of the article, and a rotation preventing member is provided at a tip portion of the shelf member. 